Collector ring construction



3,314,038 COLLECTOR RING CONSTRUCTION Donald E. Rotten, Division St., Plainfieid, Ill. 60544 Filed Mar. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 354,219 3 Claims. (Cl. 3395) This invention rel-ates generally to collector ring constructions, and more particularly to a novel collectorring construction for delivering power to an electric motor in 'an arrangement where the motor is carried to rotate relative to the input power cable.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel multiple collector-ring construction in which the individual collector rings are easily locked into and removable from the insulator base member for. carrying the collector rings.

Another object is to provide a novel collector ring construction for delivering power to a relatively largesized motor in an arrangement wherein the motor is carried to rotate relative to the input power cable.

It is a further object to provide a novel collector-ring construction according to the preceding paragraph in which the individual collector rings may be easily removed and replaced and in which the center of the construction is open for cooperation with other devices such as the discharge passageway of a hammer mill.

Other objects and features of the invention will be ap- United StatesPatent O shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and taken substantially departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Generally, the structure of the present invention is particularly useful in a silo-unloader device. The reason for the particular usefulness of the invention in such a device is that the lower rotating portion of such a 5 device is generally driven by a relatively large electric motor. The input power cable is carried by the upper non-rotating portion of the silo-unloader and it is necessary that a relatively large and substantial collector ring construction be provided if sufficient power is to be de livered from the input power cable to the electric motor. Previous collector rings have been molded into the insulator housing and have made it impossible to replace individual collector rings in the event one of the collector rings becomes excessively worn or pitted because of unusual arcing between the brushes and the collector rings. There is generally uniform wear of the plurality of concentric collector rings but occasionally if there is one brush which is sticky then there is created an excessive wear on its cooperative collector ring. In such cases it would be desirable to replace that collector ring without having to replace the entire assembly of all of the concentric collector rings and their insulating housing.

In a device such as the silo-unloader, the collector ring construction of the invention is carried in the member 10 which is commonly called -a transition assembly. The collector ring construction is disposed within the upper stationary portion 10a of the transition assembly 10 with the collector rings positioned on the underside of the insulator base member thereof. The lower rotating portion 1% of the transition assembly 10 carries a plurality of brushes which are spring-biased as shown at 10d upwardly into contact with the collector rings to provide a constant connection of power from the stationary upper portion 10a of the transition assembly 10 to the lower rotating portion 10b thereof. Input power is connected to the collector rings to supply power thereto. It is common that an electric motor be rotatively carried through the transition assembly 10 from the upper portion of the device to operate silage removal means. Generally the removed silage is delivered to a hammer mill or throwing rotor assembly which is located beneath the transition assembly It). The discharge opening of the hammer mill or throwing rotor is arranged for joining to the center tubular opening 50 of the lower housing portion 10b of the collector ring assembly so that the silage must pass through the center of the collector ring construction and the transition assembly 10. The hammer mill receives the cut and partially shredded silage and will further break and shred the silage and throw the silage upwardly through the collector ring outer housing 10 and thence through a discharge tube 20 which is fastened to the central tubular opening 51 of the upper housing portion Ilia.

The discharge tube 20 is curved to direct the shredded silage into a conveyor to convey the shredded silage to the exterior of a silo in which the transition assembly of this device is carried.

In detail, the collector ring construction of the invention which is ideally suited for use in the transition assembly 10 comprises an insulated base member 30 and a plurality of collector rings 31, 32 and 33.

The insulator base member 30 as shown in FIGURE 2 is preferably molded of a moisture impervious plastic material having good electrical insulation properties and shaped in the form of an open-centered disc. Four ears or bosses 34 are formed on the outer periphery of the member 30 and are equally spaced apart circumferentially of the member 34). The cars 34 are provided with holes 35 therethrough which permit the member 30 to be secured by means of screws 35a in a holder such as the upper housing portion of the transition assembly Ill. A hole 36 in the center of the member 30 is provided to permit the placement of the collector ring assembly within the upper portion 10a of the outer housing 10. A discharge spout 18a of the hammer mill projects up into the tubular central sections 50 of the lower portion or casting 10b of the transition housing 10 which surrounds the collector ring assembly. The upper portion 10a of the transition housing 10 is adapted to have the inner end of the gooseneck or discharge spout 20 attached thereto. The transition housing 10 and its included collector ring assembly thereby provides a continuous passage by virtue of the axially aligned tubular central portions 50 and 51 between the hammer mill and the curved discharge spout 20. The hammer mill is arranged and constructed to throw silage upwardly through its discharge spout 18a, through the tubular central portions 50 and 51 of the transition housing 10, and thence out the gooseneck 2t).

0 The lower side of the member 3tl is provided with three annular grooves 38, 39 and 40, which are concentrically arranged so that groove 38 is the groove having the largest diameter and groove 40 has the smallest diameter. The top walls of the grooves 38, 39 and 40 are flat and the side walls thereof are slightly sloped so that each of the grooves 38, 39 and 40 decreases slightly in width toward the top wall thereof.

Each of the collector rings 31, 32 and 33 is formed of a good electrical conducting material such as copper and is shaped as a flat annular ring member. At certain spaced positions about each collector ring, the marginal edges are widened to formshoulders. Two such shoulders are shown at 31a on collector ring 31 in FIGURE 1. The shoulders are shaped as segments of a circle. The shoulders of each collector ring are distributed circumferentially thereabou't, and the larger collector rings are provided with more shoulders than the smaller. Each of the collector rings 31, 32 and 33 is also provided with a lug which functions both as a terminal lug and a locking member. The lug for collector ring 31 is shown at 42 in FIGURES 2 and The lug 43 for collector ring 31 is shown in FIGURE 1, and the lug 44 for collector ring 33 is shown in FIGURE 2. The lugs may be integrally formed with the collector rings or may be soldered thereto. Each ofthe lugs 42, 43 and 44 is formed of a material which is agood electrical current conductor.

' Each of the lugs as shown herein is shaped as a short cylindrical member having a threaded hole axially therethrough. However, it should be understood that the lugs may be either of the male or female type without altering the present invention.

The shoulders on each of the collector rings such as shoulders 31a of collector ring 31 cooperate with certain slots in the walls of the grooves 38, 39 and 40. The lugs 42, 43 and 44 cooperate with certain covered slots and bosses formed on the upper side of the base member 30.

The slots which cooperate with the defined shoulders of the collector rings are each formed in two different directions in two portions of the grooves 38, 39 and 40. Firstly, each slot is formed as a curved wall or cylindrical slot extending from the lower surface of the base member 30 to the top wall of a groove. Such portions of the slots are shown for example at 38a, 38b, 39a, 39b, 40a and 40b. The other portion of each slot begins at the upper end of the cylindrical slot portion and extends along the top wall of each groove a distance substantially greater than the length of the shoulders of the collector rings. The other or second portion of each slot is of a'width substantially equal to the width of the shoulders of the collector rings and of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the collector rings. The slots in each of the groove 38, 39 and 40 are so relatively positioned that the corresponding collector rings 31, 32 and 33 may be placed in its groove with each pair of shoulders disposed in the cylindrical slot portion of each slot. When 'each collector ring engages the top Wall of its groove such as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, each collector rings is rotatable in its groove with the shoulders of each collector ring then entering the other or second portion of each slot to firmly secure each collector ring in each groove. It may be seen that each collector ring may be removed from its groove by a reverse rotation of the collector ring until the shoulders thereof are again in alignment with the cylindrical slot portion of each slot. A sufficient number of shoulders and slots must be provided for each collector ring and each groove so that when each collector ring is secured in its groove the collector ring portions between each pair of shoulders are maintained relatively secure and fiat against the top wall of each groove. The slots of adjacent grooves are staggered so that the walls between grooves may be of minimum thickness.

The area of the top wall of each groove 38, 39 and 40 which is spanned by each respective lug 42, 43 and 44 when the collector ring thereof is inserted and rotated in its groove, is provided with a longitudinal opening into which the lug extends. Integrally formed over each opening on the upper side of the base member 36 is a boss or cover. Such a cover or boss is shown at 46 in FIGURE 4. One end of each cover is provided with 'a raised terminal portion having a hole therethrough for admitting a terminal post or screw. The terminal portion of the cover 46 is shown at 46a in FIGURE 4. When each collector ring is positioned in its groove so that the shoulders of each collector ring are firmly received in the slot portions extending along the top wall of each groove, the lugs 42, 43 and 44 respectively are aligned over the holes through each terminal portion 46a, 47 and 48. A terminal post, such as screw 49 formed of a good electrical current conducting material, may then be inserted through the hole in the terminal portion and may be threaded into the lug of the collector ring to securely lock the collector ring against any accidental rotation relative to its groove and to provide a terminal for a power conductor such as power conductor 49a of FIGURE 2. As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the terminal screw 49 is securing power conductor 49a to lug 42 of collector ring 33, so that as the brush which'is carried by the lower portion of the transition assembly 14) rides in the groove 4% and upon the under surface of the collector ring 33, a good electrical current path will be maintained between the brush and the power conductor 49 as the lower portion of the transition assembly 10 rotates relative to the upper portion thereof.

The collector ring housing 10 of this invention has been designed to shield the collector rings from the adverse effects of inclement weather. As best shown in FIGURE 6 the collector ring proper is concealed by virtue of a depending skirt 52 around the upper housing portion 10a, a retainer ring 53 bolted at 54 to the depending skirt 52 and the generally horizontally disposed plate or ring like member 55 of the lower housing portion 10]). These elements act in combination to conceal and enclose the collector rings and prevent rain or snow from getting into the device of this invention.

The transition housing 10 which carries the collector ring assembly is best shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The central tube 51 of the upper housing member 1611 is generally square at its top 51a and circularat its bottom 51b. An annular step or shoulder 56 is provided around the outside of the tube 51 adjacent its bottom 51b. The casting 10a is also provided with a generally horizontally extending flange 57 forming a top for the collector ring housing. This top has integrally formed therewith the depending skirt 52 which has been previously described. A box 58 is formed on the top 57 of the housing part 10a and encloses the electrical connections to the collector rings which are shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 4. A cover 59 removably fastened by screws 60 encloses the box 58. An opening 61 in a side of the box 58 permits entry of a power input cable 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the box 53 has another opening 62 on the opposite side from the opening 61 and provides for the passage of an electrical cable which delivers electricity to a motor to cause driving of the parts of a silo unloader.

The lower portion 10b of the transition housing It] is also provided with an enclosure or box 65 which depends from the horizontal flange like plate member 55 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The enclosure 65 supports the plurality of brushes 10c and their retaining springs 10d. An under cover 66 is fastened by means of several screws 67 to the depending housing 65. A hole 68 provided in one side of the depending box 65, constitutes means for passing a cable 13 to deliver electric power to a large motor. Thus, it is seen that although there is relative rotational movement between the input cable 11 and the motor, there is no interference or tangling of the cable by virtue of the electrical power being delivered through the collector rings and the brushes which ride on the downwardly facing collector rings within the transition housing 10.

Further, as shown in FIGURE 6, it is apparent that the bearing load between the upper and lower castings a and 10b is assumed at the location of an annular offset or step 69 around the upper edge of the tubular portion 50 of the lower housing member 10b. An annular oil seal 70 is provided between the top of the annular flange 55 of the lower housing member 1017 and the annular olTset 56 of the upper housing 10a. An outer annular rim 71 of the flange 55 is adapted to ride on the top surface of an inwardly extending portion of the retainer ring 53. There is thus provided spaced annular bearing surfaces at 69 around the hub of the transition assembly, and between the rim 71 and the retainer ring 53 spaced outwardly from the hub. Grease fittings 72 and 73 are provided on the lower housing member 10b and the retainer ring 53 respectively to lubricate the spaced annular bearing surfaces between the upper and lower transition housing members lila and 10b. In the operation of the device the upper housing member 1001 remains relatively stationary while the lower housing member 10b rotates relatively to the upper portion as the silage gathering mechanism-rotates about the silo.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the construction and assembly of the collector ring arrangement of the present invention is relatively simple. It may further be seen that the replacement of any one or more collector rings is also a simple matter. To replace a collector ring it is merely necessary to first remove the appropriate terminal screw such as terminal screw 49, to then rotate the collector ring until the shoulders thereof are in alignment with the cylindrical slot portions of the slots, and to then remove the collector ring from its groove. A new collector ring may then be inserted in the arrangement to complete the replacement.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collector ring construction, a base member molded of an electrical insulating material, one surface of said base member having a groove formed therein, a collector ring for said groove, means for manually mechanically retaining said collector ring in said groove,

' said means comprising a plurality of projecting shoulders formed on said collector ring circumferentially thereof, a plurality of correspondingly shaped slots formed in the side walls of said groove to permit said collector ring to be manually inserted in said groove, said plurality of slots further formed in the walls of said groove to extend in directions in alignment with the planes of said shoulders to receive said shoulders therein responsive to an incremental manual rotation of said collector ring in said groove to mechanically retain said collector ring in said groove, said projecting shoulders of said collector ring shaped as segments of a circle, and said collector ring having a tapped terminal lug thereon, said base member having an opening formed through said one surface into said groove with said opening being positioned so that said terminal lug is in axial alignment therewith when said collector ring is positioned to be mechanically retained in said groove, said opening being formed to receive a terminal screw threadable into said terminal lug so that a power conductor is connectible to said lug through said terminal screw and so that said collector ring is locked in said mechanically retained position by said terminal screw.

2. In a collector ring construction, an insulating base member, one surface of said base member having an annular collector ring groove carried in a generally horizontal plane and having a top wall and downwardly extending side walls, a plurality of vertical slots formed in the walls of said groove in a spaced apart relationship circumferentially thereof, an annular collector ring having a width substantially equal to the width of the top wall of said groove, a plurality of shoulders formed on said collector ring in a spaced apart relationship circumferentially thereof,- said slots and said shoulders being relatively formed to cooperate to permit said ring to be manually inserted in said groove in engagement with said top wall and incrementally rotated in said grooveto be retained in said groove, and said collector ring having a tapped terminal lug on the upper side thereof, an opening formed through said top wall into said groove with said opening being positioned so that said terminal lug is in axial alignment therewith when said collector ring is positioned to be retained in said groove, said opening being formed to receive a terminal screw threadable into said terminal lug so that a power conductor is connectible to said lug through said terminal screw and so that said collector ring is locked in said retained position by said terminal screw.

3. I11 a collector ring construction, a base member molded of an electrical insulating material, one surface of said base member having a groove formed therein, a collector ring for said groove, means for manually mechanically retaining said collector ring in said groove, said means comprising a plurality of projecting shoulders formed on said collector ring circumferentially thereof, a plurality of correspondingly shaped slots formed in the side walls of said groove to permit said collector ring to be manually inserted in said groove, said plurality of slots further formed in the walls of said groove to extend in directions in alignment with the planes of said shoulders to receive said shoulders therein responsive to an incremental manual rotation of said collector ring in said groove to mechanically retain said collector ring in said groove, said projecting shoulders of said collector ring shaped as segments of a circle, and said collector ring having a terminal lug thereon, said base member having an opening formed through said one surface into said groove with said opening being positioned so that said terminal lug is in axial alignment therewith when said collector ring is positioned to be mechanically retained in said groove, said opening being formed to receive a terminal post, means for securing said terminal post to said terminal lug so that a power conductor is connectible to said lug through said terminal post and so that when said terminal post is secured to said terminal lug the said collector ring is locked in said mechanically retained position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,154 7/1929 Sprague 339-5 X 2,037,457 4/1936 Colson 339-5 X 2,064,585 12/1936 Atienza 3395 X 2,109,771 3/1938 Franklin 339-l27 2,173,325 9/1939 Alexander 3395 X 2,845,477 7/ 1958 Kelley et al. 339-127 X 3,181,715 5/1965 Olson 3395 X EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

S TRASK, Examiner. 

3. IN A COLLECTOR RING CONSTRUCTION, A BASE MEMBER MOLDED OF AN ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL, ONE SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, A COLLECTOR RING FOR SAID GROOVE, MEANS FOR MANUALLY MECHANICALLY RETAINING SAID COLLECTOR RING IN SAID GROOVE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PROJECTING SHOULDERS FORMED ON SAID COLLECTOR RING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF CORRESPONDINGLY SHAPED SLOTS FORMED IN THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID GROOVE TO PERMIT SAID COLLECTOR RING TO BE MANUALLY INSERTED IN SAID GROOVE, SAID PLURALITY OF SLOTS FURTHER FORMED IN THE WALLS OF SAID GROOVE TO EXTEND IN DIRECTIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PLANES OF SAID SHOULDERS TO RECEIVE SAID SHOULDERS THEREIN RESPONSIVE TO AN INCREMENTAL MANUAL ROTATION OF SAID COLLECTOR RING IN SAID GROOVE TO MECHANICALLY RETAIN SAID COLLECTOR RING IN SAID GROOVE, SAID PROJECTING SHOULDERS OF SAID COLLECTOR RING SHAPED AS SEGMENTS OF A CIRCLE, AND SAID COLLECTOR RING HAVING A TERMINAL LUG THEREON, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THROUGH SAID ONE SURFACE INTO SAID GROOVE WITH SAID OPENING BEING POSITIONED SO THAT SAID TERMINAL LUG IS IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH WHEN SAID COLLECTOR RING IS POSITIONED TO BE MECHANICALLY RETAINED IN SAID GROOVE, SAID OPENING BEING FORMED TO RECEIVE A TERMINAL POST, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID TERMINAL POST TO SAID TERMINAL LUG SO THAT A POWER CONDUCTOR IS CONNECTIBLE TO SAID LUG THROUGH SAID TERMINAL POST AND SO THAT WHEN SAID TERMINAL POST IS SECURED TO SAID TERMINAL LUG THE SAID COLLECTOR RING IS LOCKED IN SAID MECHANICALLY RETAINED POSITION. 